Plate valves

ABSTRACT

A plate valve which can be programmed to effect a prescribed sequence or cycle of fluid switching operations as a movable member is advanced or rotated. An intermediate, &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;programme&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;, plate, is mounted between two outer plates for movement with one of them with respect to the other and adjacent faces of the three plates are in fluid-tight sealing engagement. The plates are formed with registering sets of through holes and external fluid flow connections are made to the openings in the outer plates, any hole in either outer plate to which no connection is required to be made in accordance with the prescribed programme being closed off. The intermediate plate is grooved on one or both of its faces to provide connections between holes as required in accordance with the prescribed programme. This type of valve may be incorporated in a sequential separating apparatus. Preferably the outer plates are of metal and the intermediate plate of polytetrafluoroethylene loaded with graphite. The &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;programme&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; grooves may be cut into a thin laminate of suitable material fitted between the intermediate plate and the outer plate with which it is mounted to move.

3 United States Patent 1 Hurrell July 24, 1973 PLATE VALVES Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek [76] Inventor: Ronald Arthur Hurrell, Farley Assistant Examiner klchard Gerard House, crowborough Hm, Attorney-Serdel, Gonda & Goldlhammer Crowborough, England [22] Filed: May 20, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT A plate valve Wl'llCl'l can be programmed to effect a pre- PP N05 145,376 scribed sequence or cycle of fluid switching operations as a movable member is advanced or rotated. An inter- 301 Foreign Application Priority Data midiate], g p n i p qa ou er p a es or movemen Wl one 0 cm WI re- May 20, 1970 Great Britain 24,470/70 spect to the other and adjacent faces of the three plates are in fluid-tight sealing engagement. The plates are [52] Cl 137/312 73/422 2 31 6 formed with registering sets of through holes and exter- {Sl I Cl 6k 3/08 Gmn/ H10 nal fluid flow connections are made to the openings in [58] 73/422 C 23 the outer plates, any hole in either outer plate to which o 'g 625 18 no'connection is required to be made in accordance with the prescribed programme being closed off. The intermediate plate is grooved on one or both of its faces to provide connections between holes as required in ac- [56] References Cted cordance with the prescribed programme. This type of UNITED STATES PATENTS valve may be incorporated in a sequential separating 2,742,050 4/1956 Gray et al. 137/312 a aratu Preferably the outer plates are of metal and 2,973,117 2/196i f i 73/422 GC the intermediate plate of polytetrafluoroethylene loaded with graphite. The programme" grooves may 3:223:123 12/1965 Young l37l625.46 be Cut a lammate ofsutable mater'al fitted tween. the intermediate plate and the outer plate with which it is mounted to move.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 'aLmzsso.

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SHEET 3 OF 3 PLATE VALVES The invention relates to a plate-valve which can be programmed to effect a prescribed sequence or cycle of fluid flow switching operations as a movable member is advanced or rotated.

The invention was made in response to a requirement for a valve which would enable the user of a particular type of chromatographic separator, a sequential separator, in which a column consisting ofa number ofdiscrete lengths with a fluid switching point between each length for the connection of inlet, take off and monitoring conduits but its usefulness is by no means confined to that application. Indeed its versatility is a major feature of the invention. 7 v

In a programmable plate valve in accordance with the invention a grooved programme plate is mounted between two plates for movement with one of the outer plates with respect to the other; the adjacent faces of the plates are in sealing engagement with one another. Registering sets of holes pass through the middle plate and lead out from the inner faces of the outer plates and connections are made to and between the openings in the outer plates; any hole to which no connection is required to be made in any particular programme is closed off. The intermediate plate is grooved on one or both of its faces to provide connections between holes in accordance with'a prescribed programme. i

In order that the invention may be more thoroughly understood a programmable plate valve in accordance with it and a sequential separator incorporating the same will be described in some detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying informal drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the plates of the valve in an exploded isometric view and the connections and programmed grooving of the intermediate plate diagrammatically;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the separator;

FIG. 3 is a plan of the intermediate plate programmed for a sequential chromatographic separation; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged verticalsection corresponding to FIG. 2.

The valve shown in FIG. 1 comprises essentially three circular disc plates 10, 12 and 14, the upper two being mounted to remain stationary and the lower plate mounted for rotation and in sealing engagement with the middle plate. In each plate there are two concentric rings 16A, B, 18A, B and 20A, B of through holes, each set of holes registering with the holes of the corresponding sets in'the other plates.

With the valve in use as a column switching valve for a chromatographic or like separating column comprising a series ofinterconnected U tubes, these tubes would be connected between radially adjacent pairs of holes in-the lower plate, to be carried round with it in operation. Such an'arrangement issuggested by the showingof a relatively smallbore U tube at 22 and a relatively larger bore tube at 24, each would in practice be one of a series of 20 loops constituting a separating column.

External connections are made to the upper face of the upper plate 10. Connections for the tubes are shown at A, B, C, E, F, G and L with an in-line monitor suggested at 26.

The two series of tubes may be interconnected from A to B by way of, say, a condenser, condensate being returned at C.

Holes in the upper and lower plates having no connection are plugged.

The prescribed tube switching sequence is determined by the formation of grooves in one or both of the faces of disc plate 12. In the arrangement suggested here the grooves 28C between the holes marked 18C provide for simple series connection of the small bore U tubes (e.g. 22). ()nly alternate pairs of holes 18D, 20D are used for the larger tubes (e.g. 24), the grooves 18D effecting series connection. The groove 28E acts to by-pass a number of holes and tubes.

Concentric grooves 30, 32 are formed in the upper face of the plate 12, and similar grooves are formed in the lower face, upper and lower groove pairs being interconnected. These grooves, formed on either side of the two series of holes 18A and 18B serve to retain fluid within the required flow path. The pressure within these concentric groovesmay be maintained at suitably controlled value either above or below that in the column system, so that they can be used either to extract any material leaking across the face or to prevent outward leakage from the column switching holes.

The outer plates are preferably of metal, typically stainless steel, and the intermediate plate of plastics material, graphite loaded polytetrafluorethylene having proved particularly satisfactory as it combines the required heat resistance and chemical inertness with good lubricating, sealing and wearing properties.

The connections shown in FIG. 1 do not constitute a practical programme; they are shown to illustrate some of the numerous possibilities for the use of interchangeable programme plates.

Additional connections can be made, for example, for the purpose of temporary modification of a programme without changing the plate 12, by mounting transfer loops as required in the top plate 10, sealed through the holes in the middle plate 12, much in the manner of an electronic patchboard.

Alternatively the programme may be cut into a thin laminate of suitable material which may be fitted between the plate 12 and the upper plate.

The entire configuration may be operated in any attitude.

The number of concentric rings of holes may be two or any multiple of two. Thus more than one set of sets of columns may be disposed concentrically about the same rotary valve axis.

The description of the valve given applies to its use for chromatography the separating tubes may be other forms than columns, for example, they may be percolation tubes or bubblers.

FIGS. 3 to 4 illustrate the practical application of the valve shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 in a separator and one arrangement for a compression-tower whereby the three plates are held togetherin the required sealing engagement. t

The general arrangement of the separator is shown in FIG. 2. It comprises essentially a plate valve having an upper plate 110, intermediate plate 112 and a lower plate 114 and a column 102 consisting of 20 loop lengths of tube 122. In use the columnmay be located within an oven and there will of course be the fluid supply controls, condensers, valves and monitors dictated by the particular separating process to be performed,

details of which form no part of this invention and are therefore not shown.

The upper plate 110 and the intermediate plate 112 are held stationary, being secured to a mounting structure, parts of which are indicated at 103 and the lower plate 114, with the column 102 is mounted for rotation with respect thereto. For this purpose the lower plate carries an externally toothed ring 104 serving as a rack and engaging a pinion 106, the latter being driven by a motor, not shown in a series steps as dictated by the programme of the separating process, under the control of suitably adjustable timing mechanism, likewise not shown.

The three plates are held in the required sealing engagement by means of a spring loaded compression tower 108, details of which appear in FIG. 4.

The column 102 is protected by a frame, part of the rotor, 109, which can also serve as a stand for the assembly when removed from the apparatus.

The arrangement of the separator is for a process of sequential chromatography, that is to say a moving bed technique in which the column system, connected to multiport rotary valve, is moved up stream with respect to the mobile phase flow as the valve is indexed from one position to another in accordance with the prescribed programme.

The disposition of the holes 118A and B and grooves 128C, 130 and 132 in the intermediate plate 112 which is in effect a programme plate, for this particular process is shown in FIG. 3 and the points at which the several inlet and outlet connections are made in the upper plate 110 and their functions are also indicated, along with indication of the direction of fluid flow and column movement. The three ports in the sector marked strip are available for the input of stripping fluids to strip residual materials from the column loops.

Many variations of the simple programme embodied in the groove pattern shown in FIG. 3 are possible and it is convenient to work out the required pattern on a sheet bearing a diagrammatic representation of the programme plate 112.

Many moving bed extractive techniques can be performed with the aid of the separator described. Thus for example the column indexing mechanism may be used to programme the operation of counter current extraction tubes or for continuous stream enrichment by reverse osmosis. The column system may be set up in an attitude that enables the column to be subjected to a range of temperatures and pressures throughout an index cycle. Gases may be processed using these techniques or component bands enriched. A product condenser may be fitted to the transfer system in order that the products from one separating system may be transferred directly to another for further separation. It is even possible for all the column loops 122 to be oper-' ated in parallel, using separately controlled carrier flows into each position.

Further details of this practical embodiment of a valve in accordance with the invention are shown in FIG. 4. In particular this figure shows how the compression tower 108 is constructed-to exert compressive force on the plate valve assembly by the action of a composite spring 134, built up ofa stack of disc springs 136 assembled in pairs separated by plain discs 138, between a central boss 140 borne in a self-aligningjournal at 142 on the lower, rotor, plate 114, and a coaxial sleeve 144 threaded into the upper, rotor, plate 110.

The spring 134 is assembled on a housing 146 and acts upon the sleeve 144 through an insulating block 148, the latter co-operating with the heat dissipating effect of the discs 138 to prevent overheating of the spring.

The intermediate plate is secured in correct angular orientation 112 in relation to the upper plate of the stator with due allowance for differential thermal expansion by means of five radial pegs, one of which is to be seen at 150.

It will be observed that the series of holes 118A and 118B in the plate 112, which is fabricated in. graphite loaded polytetrafluorethylene, are larger than the registering series in the upper and lower plates and that they pitched on somewhat shorter radii; this is to allow for differential thermal expansion between the plastics material of the plate 112 and the stainless steel in which the outer plates are fabricated.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A plate valve which can be programmed to effect a prescribed sequence of fluid switching operations as a movable member is moved comprising, first and second outer plates, an intermediate plate disposed between said first and second outer plates, means coupling said intermediate plate to one of said outer plates for movement therewith relative to the other of said outer plates, adjacent faces of said three plates'being in fluid-tight sealing engagement, a set of holes extending through said intermediate plate, sets of holes in both of said outer plates, said sets of holes in said outer plates being registrable with said holes in said intermediate plate so that at least some of said holes in said outer plates can be placed in fluid communication with each other through the holes in said intermediate plate, external fluid flow connections coupled to said openings in said outer plates, and said intermediate plate being grooved on at least one of its faces to provide for a fluid transfer between respective holes in said intermediate plate.

2. A valve in accordance with claim 1 wherein said holes in said intermediate plate are larger than those in said outer plates.

3. A valve in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plates are circular discs, coaxially mounted for rotation of said one outer plate and said intermediate plate with respect to said other of said outer plates.

4. A valve in accordance with claim 3 wherein said holes are disposed in concentric rings.

5. A valve in accordance with claim 4 wherein said intermediate plate comprises concentric grooves in at least the'face of said plate which engages said relatively movable outer plate, respective concentric grooves being disposed radially inwardly and radially outwardly of said holes to sealingly retain liquid between said grooves.

6. A valve in accordance with claim 5, and compression spring means coupled to said outer plates and acting coaxially with respect to said plates to apply a compressive force to said plates.

7. A valve in accordance with claim 3, and compression spring means coupled to said outer plates and acting coaxially with respect to said plates to apply a compressive force to said plates.

8. A valve in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one face of said intermediate plate is of thin laminate material, and laminate having grooves to provide for the said fluid transfer between respective holes in said intermediate plate.

9. In a sequential separator apparatus, a programmable plate valve comprising first and second outer plates, an intermediate plate disposed between said first and second outer plates for movement with one of said outer plates with respect to the other of said outer plates, adjacent faces of said three plates being in fluidtight sealing engagement, at set of holes extending through said intermediate plate, sets of holes in said outer plates, said sets of holes in said outer plates being registrable with said holes in said intermediate plate so that at least some of said holes in said first and second outer plates can be placed in fluid communication with each other through the holes in said intermediate plate, external fluid flow connection means coupled to openings in said outer plates, and said intermediate plate being grooved on at least one of its faces to provide for fluid transfer between respective holes in said intermediate plate.

10. In sequential separator apparatus in accordance with claim 9, said plates being circular discs, coaxially mounted for rotation of said one outer plateand said intermediate plate with respectto said other of said outer plates.

I s a s 

1. A plate valve which can be programmed to effect a prescribed sequence of fluid switching operations as a movable member is moved comprising, first and second outer plates, an intermediate plate disposed between said first and second outer plates, means coupling said intermediate plate to one of said outer plates for movement therewith relative to the other of said outer plates, adjacent faces of said three plates being in fluid-tight sealing engagement, a set of holes extending through said intermediate plate, sets of holes in both of said outer plates, said sets of holes in said outer plates being registrable with said holes in said intermediate plate so that at least some of said holes in said outer plates can be placed in fluid communication with each other through the holes in said intermediate plate, external fluid flow connections coupled to said openings in said outer plates, and said intermediate plate being grooved on at least one of its faces to provide for a fluid transfer between respective holes in said intermediate plate.
 2. A valve in accordance with claim 1 wherein said holes in said intermediate plate are larger than those in said outer plates.
 3. A valve in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plates are circular discs, coaxially mounted for rotation of said one outer plate and said intermediate plate with respect to said other of said outer plates.
 4. A valve in accordance with claim 3 wherein said holes are disposed in concentric rings.
 5. A valve in accordance with claim 4 wherein said intermediate plate comprises concentric grooves in at least the face of said plate which engages said relatively movable outer plate, respective concentric grooves being disposed radially inwardly and radially outwardly of said holes to sealingly retain liquid between said grooves.
 6. A valve in accordance with claim 5, and compression spring means coupled to said outer plates and acting coaxially with respect to said plates to apply a compressive force to said plates.
 7. A valve in accordance with claim 3, and compression spring means coupled to said outer plates and acting coaxially with respect to said plates to apply a compressive force to said plates.
 8. A valve in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one face of said intermediate plate is of thin laminate material, and laminate having grooves to provide for the said fluid transfer between respective holes in said intermediate plate.
 9. In a sequential separator apparatus, a programmable plate valve comprising first and second outer plates, an intermediate plate disposed between said first and second outer plates for movement with one of said outer plates with respect to the other of said outer plates, adjacent faces of said three plates being in fluid-tight sealing engagement, a set of holes extending through said intermediate plate, sets of holes in said outer plates, said sets of holes in said outer plates being registrable with said holes in said intermediate plate so that at least some of said holes in said first and second outer plates can be placed in fluid communication with each other through the holes in said intermediate plate, external fluid flow connection means coupled to openings in said outer plates, and said intermediate plate being grooved on at least one of its faces to provide for fluid transfer between respective holes in said intermediate plate.
 10. In sequential separator apparatus in accordance with claim 9, said plates being circular discs, coaxially mounted for rotation of said one outer plate and said intermediate plate with respect to said other of said outer plates. 